Comedian David Brenner Casting Young Comics for New Live Show

Veteran stand-up comic David Brenner made his television debut in front of Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show” in 1971, a break that began his career spanning more than four decades in comedy. Now the 76-year-old comic is looking to pay it forward by showcasing the next generation of comedians on his own show.

Brenner is casting up-and-coming comics for “The David Brenner Comedy Show – What’s So Funny – With Young Comedians,” a new live show coming up on Friday, Dec. 7, at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center at Five Towns College on Long Island, N.Y., where he will introduce and host three fresh faces that he personally hand-picked.

According to an email Backstage received from Andy Engel, the director of new talent at Gotham Comedy Club and founder of Manhattan Comedy School, Brenner is “looking to showcase young comedians who don’t have any major TV credits” for this show. Selected comics will engage in a brief but in-depth “getting to know you” pre-interview before stepping on stage, where they will perform their best stand-up material and also participate in one-on-one and group interviews involving dialogue, discussion, and of course jokes.

Each performer will be paid, and “The David Brenner Comedy Show” may even air on cable television as a special or potential recurring series—meaning possible national TV exposure in addition to the live audience at Dix Hills.

To be considered for a spot, email submissions to Andy Engel at aengelcomedy@gmail.com. Comics must include their first and last name, email address, phone number, and links to performance footage (if available). Comics whose submissions do not include all of the above information will not be considered.

In addition to his four HBO comedy specials and frequent performances on TV talk shows like “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” Howard Stern, and more, Brenner holds the record with 158 appearances on Johnny Carson's “The Tonight Show.”